Fish Art contest spawns learning

For the 11th year running, the province is holding its Kids’ Fish Art contest.

Sponsored by the Ministry of Natural Resources, the intent of this contest is to spark creativity and encourage learning and environmental awareness among students from grades 4 to 12.

This year students are asked to focus on either the largemouth bass or the bloater, a deepwater fish wiped out in some lakes by invasive species.

Each year approximately 150,000 young angler licences are distributed across Ontario.

“[The contest] opens young people’s eyes to the rich biodiversity in Ontario’s lakes and rivers. We hope this outlet for their creative abilities inspires a long and rewarding interest in protecting our natural resources,” says Natural Resources Minister David Orazietti.

There are usually approximately 350 to 400 entries from youth across Ontario. To make it fair for all entrants there are 3 age/grade categories: grades 4 to 6, grades 7 to 9 and grades 10 to 12.

Judges use a point system to determine the winner from each group, one of which wins the grand prize. Each category winner receives $500 worth of art supplies for their classroom, fishing gear for themselves, and their design will appear on the 2014 young angler’s licence.

The grand prize winner also wins a trip to Pine Portage Lodge and a day of fishing with Italo Labignan, the host of the Canadian Sportfishing television series.